Seven, years down the line...2 convicted for rape and murder, another acquitted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 14 2020:
In a landmark judgment, Maibam Manojkumar Session Judge Imphal East today convicted Kshetrimayum Biju and Toijam Thesus for 'murdering' a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) of RIMS Pathology Department seven years after the incident and acquitted Thoudam Jibal.
The judgment was announced after it was kept reserved by the same Court on March 20 and also fixed December 19 for sentence hearing to announce the quantum of punishment against the convicts.
The convicted Kshetrimayum Biju @ Hollendro (35) SJo Ksh Ibochou of Thoubal Kshetri Leikai, currently staying at irilbung Thongkhong; Toijam Thesus @ Jamesh Bond @ Aboi (34), S/o Toijam Jugindro of Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai and acquitted Thoudam Jibal (34) S/o (L) Th Thoiba of Irilbung Machahal were produced before the Court for the announcement of the judgment order through video conferencing from Sajiwa Central Jail.
Special PP Advocate Rebika who assisted the prosecution in the case and defence counsels were also present at the Court.
The case was against three of them based on the complaint of the victim's father lodged at Irilbung Police Station in 2013 after the body of the deceased was found at Bashikhong Loumanbi Loukhol on March 5 afternoon after the victim went missing from March 3, 2013 .
The IO of the case after the completion of the investigation submitted the charge sheet to CJM Imphal East on September 5 , 2013 and the case was committed for the trial to Session Judge Imphal East on October 1, 2013 and the charges were framed against three of them.
Prosecutors, in order to prove the charges levelled against the convicts and acquitted person beyond doubt, produced 3 5 witnesses and exhibited 132 documents and materials before the Court during the trial as the convicts and acquitted did not produce any witness in their defence.
The Court after hearing both sides and on perusal of the case records concluded that the convict Kshetrimayum Biju and Toijam Thesuch conspired to eliminate the deceased.
And Kshetrimayum Biju, apart from murdering the deceased by conspiring with convict Toijam also raped the victim/ deceased.
The Court order also mentioned that the prosecutors have failed to provide evidence of Thoudam Jibal's involvement in the case.
Accordingly, the Court convicted Kshetrimayum Biju under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) 302 (murder) and under section 376 (rape) .
The Court also convicted Toijam Thesuch under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 302 IPC (murder) and acquitted Thoudam Jibal from the charges levelled against him and cancelled his bail bond.
The Court fixed December 19 for sentence hearing to announce the quantum of punishment against the convicts.
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